Washing small parts



Original Filed Jan. 10, 1963 H/M. SADWITH WASHING SMALL PARTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORY HOW/7RD /V. SADW/ TH BY *W ATTORNEYS Original Filed Jan. 10, 1963 H. M. SADWITH WASHING SMALL PARTS '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l7 I 50 M I l l l l l I M h m; M l l l ll 3g E III REA INVENTOR. MS/IDW/T Oct. 31 1967 s w| 3,350,224

WASHING SMALL PARTS Original Filed Jan. 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Ho WARD M xS /ww/m BY A 7' TORA/EFS' United States Patent 3,350,224 WASHING SMALL PARTS Howard M. Sadwith, Plainfield, N.J., assignor to Industrial Washing Machine Corporation, Matawan, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application Jan. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 250,558, now Patent No. 3,229,701, dated Jan. 18, 1966. Divided and this application Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,703

Claims. (Cl. 134-33) This application is a division of application Ser. No. 250,558, filed Jan. 10, 1963, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,701.

This invention relates in general to washing machines and washing methods, and in particular to such machines and methods in which the objects to be cleaned are confined in a rotating container. The best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention may be understood by those skilled in the art from the following.

Tote pans of generally standardized dimensions used to collect small industrial parts such as are delivered by automatic screw machines and the like. A tote pan holding dirty parts may be fastened to a foraminated basket so that the basket in combination with the tote pan defines a container confining the parts. Cleaning machines which tumble the objects to be cleaned sometimes contain those objects in such a container which must have perforations or foraminations smaller than the smallest object to be cleaned. The foraminations in the container furnish the means of ingress and egress for the cleaning fluid, rinsing fluid and drying air. It has been found that when the fluid or air is directed upon the container from a point exterior to the container only a small proportion of the fluid or air supplied actually enters the container and comes in contact with the objects to be cleaned. Repeated unsuccessful attempts have been made to devise a practical machine in which substantially more of the fluid or air supplied would enter the container and come in contact with the objects to be cleaned.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method and means for ingress to the container which enables substantially all of the cleaning fluid, rins- .ing fluid or air which is supplied to come in contact with the parts to be cleaned. This results in more eflicient cleaning and reduces the time necessary to perform the cleaning operation.

The specific machine for using the method and in which the invention has-been incorporated provides a series of cleaning, rinsing and drying work stations. Containers to hold the parts to be cleaned are provided. A pair of conveyor chains upon which the containers are mounted carry the containers from work station to work station. Each container is provided with a hollow axle to allow the ingress of cleaning, rinsing and drying fluids and is provided with foraminations to allow the egress of the cleaning fluid, rinsing fluid and drying air. Pairs of nozzles are provided at the various work stations positioned in such a manner that when the basket is stopped at a work station, fluid or air will be ejected from the nozzles, through the hollow axles into the container. On one of the basket axles a gear is provided. The gear meshes with an auxiliary chain drive so that the container may be rotated without displacing it from its position at a work station.

In operation a container holding parts to be cleaned is moved by the main conveyor chains to the first washing station. The container is stopped at the washing station so that its axle openings are aligned with the nozzles. Washing fluid is supplied through the nozzles under pressure so that it passes through hollow openings in the axles into the container while the container is being rotated by the auxiliary chain drive. The washing fluid may conveniently be supplied to the nozzles by means of a pump and piping interconnecting a source of cleaning fluid and the ice washing nozzles. The cleaning fluid introduced into the container escapes through the perforations in the container. When the washing operation is completed, the container is moved by the main conveyor chains to a rinsing station. It is positioned at the rinsing station in such a manner that the axle openings are aligned with the rinsing nozzles. Rinsing fluid is ejected from the nozzles under pressure, passes through the axle openings into the container, rinses the parts and escapes through the perforations in the container. The rinsing fluid may conveniently be supplied to the nozzles by means of a pump and piping interconnecting a source of rinsing fluid and the rinsing nozzles. During the rinsing operation, the container is again rotated by means of the auxiliary chain drive without displacing it from the rinsing station. The container is then transported by the main conveyor chains to a drying station. The container is positioned at the drying station so that the axle openings of the container are aligned with the drying nozzles. While the container is rotated by the auxiliary chain drive, air is ejected from the nozzles, passes through the axle openings, performs the drying operation and escapes through the perforations in the container. The drying air may conveniently be supplied to the nozzles by means of a blower and ductwork connecting the blower to the nozzles.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional elevation of a cleaning machine in which the invention may be incorporated.

FIG. 2 is an end section view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 2.

The cleaning machine disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,943,424 may be modified to incorporate this invention as will be apparent to men skilled in the art from the following.

Referring now to the drawings, a casing or housing of the cleaning machine is designated generally by the number'l0yThe machine is constructed so as to enable conveyance of the containers and articles to be cleaned to various work stations, displaced in sequential positioning, within the casing of the machine.

The interior of the casing 10 is divided into a washing .station 11, rinsing station 12, first drying station 13, second drying station 14 and third drying station 15. Inside the casing 10 are placed a pair of main conveyor chains 16, displaced in parallel relation. The containers 17 are rotatably mounted between the main conveyor chains 16 at spaced intervals thereon. The main conveyor chains 16 carry the containers 17 sequentially to the washing station 11, rinsing station 12, first drying station 13, second drying station 14 and third drying station 15.

Tote pans 18, of generally standard dimensions, are used to collect parts delivered by automatic screw machines and the like. A tote pan 18 is placed in position against the sealing flange 19 of a foraminated basket 20 and is locked in position by locking gate 21 so as to define a container 17 confining the parts to be cleaned or as explained in US. Patent No. 2,943,424. The complete container assembly 20 essentially comprises of a tote pan portion 18 and a basket portion 20. Loading and unloading of the containers is performed at loading station 22.

The basket 20 is constructed with a tubular axle 23 having a basket mounting flange 24 which is mounted to one side wall of the basket 20 by bolts 25 disposed around the basket mounting flange 24. On the other side wall of the basket 20 a tubular axle 26 having a basket mounting flange 27 and a gear mounting flange 28 is mounted by means of bolts 29 disposed around the basket mounting flange 27. A sprocket or gear 30 is mounted to the gear mounting flange 28 by means of bolts 31 disposed around the gear mounting flange 28. Graphited bronze bushings 32 are slidably fitted into the tubular axles 23 and 26. The shafts 33 are tubular, that is to say they are provided with a passageway to a hollow opening at or near the inner ends through which cleaning fluid or the like can be supplied into the container. Tubular shafts 33 are slidably fitted into the graphited bronze bushings 32 and constitute a pair of supporting members. Angle braces 34 are spot-welded onto links of main conveyor chains 16, and are bolted onto the tubular shafts 33 by means of bolts 35. The foregoing constitute a means of rotatably supporting the container 17 which provide a conduit for fluid or air to enter the container 17 by means of the tubular or hollow opening running through the tubular shafts 33 along the axis of the containers rotation. The main conveyor chains 16 ride in guides 36. Auxiliary chain 37 rides in guides 38 and is constructed so as to mesh with gear or sprocket 30 when the containers 17 are at a work station.

A pair of washing nozzles 39 are positioned on opposite sides of the washing station 11. A pair of rinsing nozzles 40 are positioned on opposite sides of the rinsing station -12. Pairs of drying nozzles 41, 42 and 43 are positioned on opposite sides of the drying stations 13, 14 and respectively. Washing fluid is supplied under pressure to the washing nozzles 39 by pumps through piping. Rinsing fluid is supplied under pressure to the rinsing nozzles 40 by pumps through piping. Drying air is supplied under pressure to the drying nozzles 41, 42 and 43 by blowers through ductwork.

A limit switch tripper 44 is spot-welded to one of tubular shafts 33. A limit switch 45 is positioned along the route of one of the main conveyor chains 16 so that as each container 17 passes the limit switch 45 the limit switch tripper 44 of the container 17 trips the limit swtich 45.

The nozzles 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 are displaced in pairs located in opposed relation to one another along the path of the main conveyor chains 16 so that when one of the containers 17 is positioned at one pair of nozzles, other containers 17 are positioned at the remaining nozzle pairs.

The operation of the machine can best be shown by following one of the containers 17 through a complete washing, rinsing and drying cycle.

The containers 17 are displaced from each other equal distances on the main conveyor chains 16. As each container 17 approaches the loading station 22 the limit switch tripper 44 of the container 17 trips the limit switch 45. The limit switch 45 then stops the motor driving the main conveyor chains 16. The position of limit switch 44 is adjusted so that when the main conveyor chains 16 cease their movement following tripping of the limit switch 45 a container 17 is positioned at the loading station 22 and each pair of nozzles 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 has a container -17 aligned with them.

A tote pan 18, containing parts to be cleaned, is fastened to the foraminated basket at the loading station 22 so as to form the closed container 17. The main conveyor chains 16 are then activated to carry the basket toward the washing station 11. The limit swtich tripper 44 on the next following container 17 trips the limit switch 45 as that container 17 passes the limit switch 45. Tripping of the limit switch 45 stops the main conveyor chains 16, so that the tubular shafts 33 of the container 17 are positioned in alignment with the washing nozzles 39. Washing fluid is supplied at the washing nozzles 39 under pressure so that ti enters the container 17 through the tubular shafts 33 along the axis of the containers rotation while the container -17 is being rotated by auxiliary chain 37 meshing with gear 30. At the end of an appropriate washing cycle, the main conveyor chains 16 move the container 17 to the rinsing station 12 so that the tubular shafts 33 of the container 17 are aligned with the rinsing nozzles 40. Rinsing fluid is supplied under pressure at the rinsing nozzles 40 so that it enters the container 17 through the tubular shafts 33. The container 17 is again rotated by means of the auxiliary chain 37 meshing with gear 30. At the end of an appropriate rinsing cycle, the main conveyor chains 16 carry the container 1 0 a p t W e. tub

lar shafts 33 are aligned with the first pair of drying nozzles 41. Drying air is supplied under pressure at the first drying nozzles 41 and enters the container through the tubular shafts 33. The container 17 is again rotated by means of auxiliary chain 37 meshing with gear 30. In succeeding cycles the container 17 is positioned so that its tubular shafts 33 are positioned sequentially in alignment with the second pair of drying nozzles 42 and the third pair of drying nozzles 43. The container 17 is then moved by the main conveyor chains 16 to the loading station 22. At the loading station 22 the tote pan 18, now containing clean parts, is removed and may be replaced by a new tote pan 18 containing parts to be cleaned.

As an alternative construction, one of the tubular shafts 33 might be open and the other tubular shaft 33 might be closed, thus allowing the ingress of cleaning fluid, rinsing fluid or drying air through only one side of the container 17. As another alternative construction, instead of conveying the container 17 to the nozzles, the container might be left stationary and the washing and other fluids or gas conveyed to it in turn. By valving means, even a single nozzle might be used to supply cleaning fluid, rinsing fluid and drying air to the tubular shafts 33.

As another alternative construction, the containers 17 might be rotated at the work stations by means of individ' ual gear drives at each work station meshing with the gears 30. As another alternative construction, the auxiliary chain 37 might follow a generally rectangular path within the perimeter of the main drive chains 16 instead of following a path outside the perimeter of the main drive chains 16 as shown in the figures. As another laternative construc tion, the tubular shafts 33 may be made as one shaft ex tending through the container assembly and provided with openings along that portion of its length within that assembly.

I claim:

1. The method of cleaning parts comprising, in sequence, placing the parts in a partially foraminated container having on at least one side an opening about the axis of the container rotation, bringing said container to a work station and aligning said side opening with a nozzle at said station adapted to eject fluid toward said opening; supplying fluid under pressure to the nozzle and thereby into said container while rotating said container about said axis so that the fluid is dispersed through the tumbling parts and drained through the foraminations; removing said container from said work station and removing said parts from the container.

2. The method of cleaning parts comprising placing the parts in a partially foraminated container having openings in each side disposed opposite each other and positioned about the axis of container rotation; aligning said container so that said side openings are each adjacent a nozzle adapted to eject fluid into the container generally along the axis of container rotation; supplying fluid under pressure through the nozzles and thereby into the container so that the opposing streams of fluid meet within the container and result in a turbulent dispersion of the fluid within the container while rotating the container about said axis and removing said container from adjacent to said nozzles.

3. The method of cleaning parts comprising the steps of placing the parts in a perforated container having at least one opening in the side thereof, positioning said opening adjacent to a first source of cleaning fluid, ro tating and moving said container about said opening so the portions of the container away from said opening tumble the parts and so that said opening remains positioned adjacent to said first source of cleaning fluid during said rotating and moving, adding cleaning fluid through said opening into the container during said rotating and moving, carrying the container to another location and there positioning said opening adjacent to another source of fluid, rotating and moving said container about said opening so that the portions away from said opening tumble the parts and so that said opening remains positioned adjacent to said other source of fluid during said rotating and moving, adding fluid from said other source through said opening to the container during said rotating and moving, carrying the container away from said other location, and removing the parts from within the container.

4. The method of cleaning parts comprising the steps of placing the parts in a perforated container having an opening in the side thereof, bringing the parts in the container to a first work station, tumbling the parts by the rotary movement of the container about an axis extending through said opening in the side of the container, adding fluid along said axis and through said opening to the tumbling parts in the container during said rotary movement at said first work station so that the fluid is dispersed through the tumbling parts and drained through the perforations and away from the container at the first work station, moving the parts in the container to another work station, tumbling the parts by the rotary movement of the container about an axis extending through said opening in the side of the container, adding fluid along said axis and through said opening to the tumbling parts in the container during said rotary movement at said other work station so that the fluid is dispersed through the tumbling parts and drained through the perforations and away from the container at the other Work station, removing the parts in the container from said other work station, and removing the said parts from the container.

5. The method of cleaning small industrial parts of grease and like impurities comprising the steps of first placing the parts in a perforated container having an opening therein, then juxtaposing said opening adjacent to a first fixed position discharge source of cleaning fluid, rotating and moving said container about said opening so that the axis of container rotation passes through said opening whereby the portions of the container displaced from said axis and opening tumble the parts while said opening remains positioned adjacent to said first source of cleaning fluid during said rotating and moving, adding cleaning fluid from said first source through said opening into the container during said rotating and moving, then juxtaposing said opening to another fixed position discharge source of fluid, rotating and moving said container about an axis extending through said opening so that the axis of container rotation passes through said opening whereby the portions of the container displaced from said axis and opening tumble the parts while said opening remains positioned adjacent to said other source of cleaning fluid during said rotating and moving, adding cleaning fluid from said other source through saidopening into the container during said rotating and moving, and then removing the parts from Within the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,397 11/1869 Conner 68-59 445,534 2/1891 Bidwell 134145 X 1,271,549 7/1918 Dudley 6858 X 1,586,403 5/1926 Braley. 2,556,303 6/1951 Traube 68-58 X 2,943,424 7/ 1960 Sadwith 134-72 3,229,701 1/1966 Sadwith 13472 FOREIGN PATENTS 605,047 5/ 1960 Italy.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. MICHAEL E. ROGERS, Examiner. F. W. BROWN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CLEANING PARTS COMPRISING, IN SEQUENCE, PLACING THE PARTS IN A PARTIALLY FORAMINATED CONTAINER HAVING ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE AN OPENING ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE CONTAINER ROTATION, BRINGING SAID CONTAINER TO A WORK STATION AND ALIGNING SAID SIDE OPENING WITH A NOZZLE AT SAID STATION ADAPTED TO EJECT FLUID TOWARD SAID OPENING; SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO THE NOZZLE AND THEREBY INTO SAID CONTAINER WHILE ROTATING SAID CONTAINER ABOUT SAID AXIS SO THAT THE FLUID IS DISPERSED THROUGH THE TUM- 